Latest update September 6th, 2026 5:03 PM
Why Democrats are doing badly in Nov. elections
Dear Editor,
Philip Bynoe (letter Kaieteur News Oct. 21) is correct to note that the Democratic Party seems likely to lose control of Congress on November 2, but not because, as he stated, “a White backlash against a Black being President”. People do vote race in America. But President Barack Obama and the Democrats have themselves to blame for their setbacks in the polls.
The Democratic leadership of the Congress and President Obama made a lot of blunders with their super majority of Congress over the bank bailouts and health care reform. Instead of focusing on creating jobs for the millions losing their income, they looked to bail out their wealthy friends on Wall Street and they neglected “Main Street”, the people who have been hurting because of the errors of the bankers and who lustily voted for Obama in November 2008. They have become disappointed in his performance giving him one of the lowest approval ratings for a President mid-way in his term in office.
Obama and the Democratic Congressional leadership got their priorities all mixed up and the voters have turned against them to teach them a lesson. And up until now, the Democrats would not admit they made an error and seek the voters’ forgiveness. They are “wrong and strong” in Guyanese parlance.
Overall, the polls reflect major problems for Democrats and a turn around will be difficult though not impossible. Obama is very unpopular; the economy is in shambles with people still losing their jobs; more and home foreclosures are rising; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are sapping up the bulk of the nation’s revenues although people are no longer paying attention to the wars.
They are more concerned about domestic bread and butter pocket issues (economy and jobs) and the Democrats are failing them. Another reason why the Democrats are also doing bad in the polls because generally the President’s party tend to lose seats in a mid-term elections (mid way in the term of the President) because voters want to send him a message that they disapprove of his policies and for him to work harder to earn their support. These are the major reasons why all the opinion polls indicate the Democrats will lose both Houses of Congress.
Nevertheless, I am hopeful voters will have a change of heart and allow the Democrats to retain control of both houses of the legislature because I believe they have the right medicine to turn around the economy. They just need a wake up call to start thinking about the middle and working classes, not their wealthy friends.
The Democrats are the best hope for Guyanese and other minority groups in America to combat discrimination and to get justice and fair play and to get back to work. The Democrats may be bad and betrayed the working class, but the other side is likely to be worse because they represent big business interests and don’t care for the poor and minorities.
And it is for this reason that I have volunteered to make phone calls through my labour union to encourage voters to support the Democratic Party. And I encourage other Guyanese, wherever they are settled in America, to do the same – join a campaign and vote to voice your opinion one way or the other, even if you don’t support Obama and the Democrats.
Turnout will make the difference in the outcome of the elections. Democrats are not enthusiastic about voting because they feel betrayed. Young voters who made the Obama victory possible in 2008 also feel he let them down, because the President has not delivered on his promises to them to make higher education more affordable and accessible.
Somehow, I feel the Democrats are going to survive this predicted election onslaught and manage to barely save their majorities. Right now, the Democrats have a 39 seats majority in the House and nine seats in the Senate.
Vishnu Bisram
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